I'm American but unfortunately can't help you with the majority of your questions (I'm insured via my wifes plan )

but I think the major fall down is going to be prescriptions from the U.S. -- many of the drug names are different here and unless you can convince your doc generic names ( not sure that will help either ) the pharmacy will simply not understand the prescription.

( and no, don't expect the pharmacist to try to do a referenced translation )